Know a new way to machine bind your quilt?

Does anyone know of a new, easy way to machine bind your whole top without it looking bad? I found the way that you put 1 1/2" of one fabric and 2" of another fabric sewn side by side together and fold it over and you get a 1/4 flap that you sew on, but I am looking for an easier way to machine sew. I am not able to hand stitch the binding at this time.

"Be yourself...everyone else is taken."
Strong people don't put others down...they build them up."
"Remember that your instincts are more important than rules"

I sew from the front, fold back making sure it covers the stitching, and stitch in the ditch from the front. You just have to be sure the back catches by either pinning or using glue to hold the fabric in place. This is my preferred method of attaching binding. I'm not much of a hand sewer.

I use 2 1/4" binding strips, folded over. I sew on the wrong side of the quilt, using the 'unfolded' edges of the binding 1/4 " from the edge. Then I fold over to the front. I make sure the seam from sewing the back of the binding on is completely covered by the binding (some tutorials on YouTube do not do this and I prefer the covered seam look) before I sew down the binding on the front of the quilt. I use a blanket stitch, buttonhole stitch or another simple decorative stitch. This way, the design of the stitches catches your eye before any 'crooked discrepancies' of the binding hit the quilting police's eye. I cannot hand sew the binding on the large quilts due to impatience and tired fingers and hands. So I let the colorful bindings and decorative sewing stitches speak for my lack of perfection. I would rather have it look nice and be done with it at the same time.

I was told by the quilt police that this method http://www.lorettaalvarado.com/binding.htm was the lazy "easy" way to do quilt binding. I think that it is a sensible way to bind a quilt especially if it is just a quilt to love and use. This isn't the method that I would use on DD's heirloom wedding quilt but it definitely works fine on the quilt kids drag to sleepovers and to camp. Different methods suit different quilts.

I sew folded binding to the front, wrap to the back and stitch in the ditch from the front, catching the binding, and covering the seam line. The trick to making it look nice is to use an open toe foot so you can see where you are stitching in the ditch. IF It is a cotton back, I also quickly press the binding away from the quilt front, towards the outside edges. It seems to help. IF I don't catch the binding for a few inches on the back, I simply roll more of the binding to the back and stitch those few inches again. Match bobbin thread to the binding. On the front I often use invisible.

Phooey on the Quilt Police! Folding the backing over to the front to act as the binding is a time-honored technique! It's what my G'ma did on the beautiful triple Irish chain quilt I have from her.

The Quilt Police should remember that not everyone wants to enter a judged show and be criticized for every little thing. Most of us quilt for pleasure!

Originally Posted by Shelbie

I was told by the quilt police that this method http://www.lorettaalvarado.com/binding.htm was the lazy "easy" way to do quilt binding. I think that it is a sensible way to bind a quilt especially if it is just a quilt to love and use. This isn't the method that I would use on DD's heirloom wedding quilt but it definitely works fine on the quilt kids drag to sleepovers and to camp. Different methods suit different quilts.

I sew from the front, fold back making sure it covers the stitching, and stitch in the ditch from the front. You just have to be sure the back catches by either pinning or using glue to hold the fabric in place. This is my preferred method of attaching binding. I'm not much of a hand sewer.

This is what I like to do also and sometimes I will go just a bit from the ditch and use a decorative stitch.

I use a 2-3/4" binding, folded in half, sew a 3/8" seam, sew to front, hand sew to the back. I am sure it is sewn and I have done so many I am pretty fast at it. That is if I don't take many breaks. I can't seem to do it neatly sewing by machine. While I am hand sewing I either race the clock or a radio talk show and I plan my next quilt, makes the time seem shorter. My tried and true method for me.

Another Phyllis
This life is the only one you get - enjoy it before you lose it.

I also use 2 1/2 inch double folded binding, I stitch it 1/4 inch raw edges to the BACK of the quilt, then turn it to the front and top stitch right at the edge, easy peasy, and no I dont do hand binding since I will never enter mine in a competition and they are for mine and friends and family use.

The Quilt Police should remember that not everyone wants to enter a judged show and be criticized for every little thing. Most of us quilt for pleasure!

Hmmmm, a comment like this makes me think you have never entered a judged quilt show, most likely because you believe your own falsehoods. Judges comments are not meant to "criticize every little thing" they are meant to give you food for thought on where you can seek improvement in your quilting skills. Even if you only quilt for pleasure there is always room for improvement. I feel sorry for anyone who isn't able to take constructive criticism and turn it into a valuable learning tool that it is usually meant to be. Unsubstantiated comments like this make people fear to enter a quilt show and that is a shame.

Here is an example of the comments I received at a show I entered last year:
"What an explosion of color and value, Chevron border effectively frames the action, Generally very good piecing technique, some unsecured seams and chopped points noted, Generally good quilting technique, tails should be trimmed, quilting designs are effectively placed, Bindings are secure however edges should run straight."

So if you view that is being criticized for every single little thing, that is very sad.

Regarding the OP's original question on binding techniques, there is Sharon Schambers method using elmers schoold glue. BTW Sharon is a major AWARD Winning quilter and does her binding my machine for those posters who defend machine binding by saying they "don't enter shows". There is no shame in machine binding but many simply do not like the look.

Another effective machine binding method I have used is utilzing a decorative stitch on my machine. I sew the binding to the back or bring the backing round to the front and stitch it in place on the front using a decorative stitch placed right on the edge of the binding, actually using the decorative stitch to bury the edge of the binding strip.

However my preferred method is by hand. I just like the look of that the best.

I use the "stitch in the ditch on the front side" method also. I cut my binding strips at 2-1/4" to 2-1/2" depending on the bulk of the quilt sandwich. (My most recent quilt was flannel and I used the 2-1/4" cut.)
My machine has a blind hem foot with an uneven underside and screw-type adjustment for the guide edge that helps keep the fabrics snug/together/wrapped when I stitch in the ditch.
I've also used my 1/4" foot for a lighter quilt sandwich and stitched in the ditch from the top side.

Last edited by sewnuts321; 03-09-2012 at 08:24 AM.
Reason: clarification